Chepstow Page 2

A View of Chepstow Castle from The Dell. On the wall of the Lower Bailey in the castle is a commemorative plaque, erected by members of the Kemeys family in 1935, which reads: "On the 25th day of May 1648 near this spot was slain Sir Nicholas Kemeys Knight and Baronet of Cefn Mably and Llanfair Iscoed Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Monmouth and Glamorgan whilst defending this castle for King Charles the First against the forces of Oliver Cromwell."

Between the top of Bridge Street and Hocker(Hawker) Hill Street is the
Powis Alms House. The plaque inset high up reads "THIS ALMSHOUSE Was Licensed and Endowed ANNO DOM 1716 By the sole Charity of THOMAS POWIS, late of ENFIELD in the County of Middlesex VINTNER A Native of this Town For the Reception and Maintenance of Six Poor MEN, and Six Poor WOMEN, Inhabitants of this Town And Parish for ever."

The Priory Church of St Mary, was founded in 1071, also by William FitzOsbern. Benedictine monks from Cormeilles in Normandy (Chepstow's twin town) were there until the Dissolution of the Monasteries between 1536 and 1540. Subsequently, the building has suffered, but still has a fine Norman doorway. On the north exterior wall of the church is a tablet "In Memory of Richard Sayes, of this Town, who departed this Life the 17 October 1774, in the 105th year of his age. (It can be seen, just left of centre, in the view of St Mary's Church from the churchyard alongside.)

The mediaeval town gate

seen here from inside (and here from outside) the town wall, was for long on the main road to and from South Wales. I well remember, as a child, travelling through the Town Gate in a Red & White coach on the way to visit my grandparents. Here is a view from the room above the Town Arch looking up Moor Street.A plaque, erected by the Chepstow Society, on the wall of the white building to the left (south) of the arch draws attention to an inscription above the doorway recording "...the rebuilding of the Gate House in 1609 by Mrs Margaret Cleyton, a notable Chepstow resident and benefactress to the town. She lived here until her death in 1627. Her elaborate tomb is in the Parish Church". Another plaque, on the wall of the White Lion public House states "White Lion circa 1644 established as a coaching house".

Chepstow Tesco supermarket has a couple of plaques commemorating Chepstow's history on the exterior wall.

Beaufort Square 2 November 2005

The gun, from a captured German submarine, in Beaufort Square was presented to the town by King George Fifth and placed there as a memorial to Able Seaman W. C. Williams V.C. who was a native of Chepstow.